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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Top 5 TV Shows of 2013

There is a long list of shows I need to check out in my back pocket. Including Orange is the new Black and The Americans which I have seen get some praise in 2013. I found in 2013 my TV viewing has certainly grown. The stories being told and entertainment from some programs simply seems to be out shinning allot of movies at the moment. I'd love to say it's a 'golden age' for TV at the moment but here in Australia out free to air TV channels are still peddling 98% crap and we seem to be in dire need of a great Netflix service judging by the illegal download numbers for shows here. But we're not here to talk about that crap, we're here to talk about my Top 5 shows of 2013.

5: Arrow (Season 2)

The first half of the second season if Arrow was exceptionally better than the entire first season. Although I enjoy the first season it wasn't something I looked forward to seeing the following week. This season however I was eagerly anticipating the next episode.

This half season was allot faster paced and yet we still managed to get allot of character time. Especially with the dealing of Tommy's death from last season it was necessary for Oliver and Laurel to get time to deal with it.

Although still at times corny but highly enjoyable TV Arrow is 2013 was highly watchable.

4: The Newsroom (Season 2)

I only discovered Newsroom last year and blasted through its first season and quickly caught up on the second. At its heart its a show about people, all different kinds of people, with issues and in-perfections all of them headed by Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy. The cast is brilliant and the writing is funny, potent and the third and third and final season in 2014 is one of my most anticipated returning shows.

3: Game of Thrones (Season 3)

Everyone knows how good Game of Thrones is; it's really good.

2013 was the year we saw the episode 'The Rains of Castamere' however and the splitting point for some that it was. Game of Thrones just continues to fire un-flinching punches and that's why it's one of the best shows on TV at the moment.

2: Hannibal (Season One)

Really though, am I the only person that was so down on this whole idea the be amazingly surprised? Or was this always looking so good and I'm just that naive?

Dark to it's core with eerie cinematography and score Hannibal creates one of the most dreadfully wonderful things on TV. Mads Mikkelsen brings Hannibal Lecter to life on the same grand level that Sir Anthony Hopkins did in Silence of the Lambs. Hugh Dancy is truly disturbed to his core as he takes on the role of Will Graham; Hannibal is absolutely disturbed to its core.

1: Breaking Bad (The Final Season)

What was once one the bottom of the viewer numbers, now a Pop Culture and TV phenomenon, Breaking Bad had 8 final episodes to rap the tragic story of Walter White. Show runner Vince Gilligan certainly didn't waiver under pressure delivering a fantastic and deserved final and one of the best episodes of the entire show with 'Ozymandias.'

Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris, Betsy Brant, RJ Mite, Bob Odenkirk and of course Bryan Crantson (freshly Golden Globe Winner) should all be proud of the achievement of Breaking Bad. Every single one delivers career defining performances in what will go down in the books as one of the best TV shows ever made.